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9 P. MANIKANDAN .Cdr Indian Forester, 142 (10) : 979-988, 2016 ISSN No. 0019-4816 (Print) http://www.indianforester.co.in ISSN No. 2321-094X (Online) BIRD DIVERSITY OF A RIPARIAN FOREST IN THE NILGIRI BIOSPHERE RESERVE, INDIA P. MANIKANDAN AND P. BALASUBRAMANIAN Landscape Ecology Division, Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Anaikatty, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India E-mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT A total of 158 species of birds belonging to 56 families was recorded in a lowland riparian forest in along Bhavani river in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, India from August 2012 to July 2014. Of the 158 species of birds, 110 species were residents, 33 were winter migrants and 15 summer migrants. The order Passeriformes was highest in dominance followed by Piciformes and Falconiformes. Insectivores (47%) constituted the most predominant guild followed by frugivores (20%). Highest species richness (127) was observed in February and lowest (75) in July. Maximum diversity value (4.23) was recorded in December. Avifauna of the study area comprised one threatened species, Nilgiri Woodpigeon (Columba elphinstonii)- Vulnerable and five near-threatened species and four endemic species. This study illustrated useful information on bird diversity of a low-land riparian forest which serves as a baseline for future research and monitoring. Key words: Birds, Lesser Fish-eagle, Hornbills, Bhavani river. Introduction Western Ghats, India (Fig. 1). This Valley which is Birds play a useful role in the control of insect of contiguous to Nilgiri south-eastern slopes and part of the pests, as predators of rodents, scavengers, seed dispersers Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, forms an ecologically important and as pollinating agents and thus form an important region owing to the presence of pristine semi-evergreen component in natural ecosystem (Manjunath and Joshi, forests alongside the Bhavani River and high diversity of 2012). The Indian subcontinent has diverse avian fauna wild fauna. The Bhavani River originates from Silent Valley with above 1,300 bird species (Rasmussen and Anderton, in the State of Kerala and flows into western Tamil Nadu, 2012). Avifaunal diversity has been decreasing due to the covering a distance of 217 km before merging with the destruction of natural habitat by human activities (Bhadja Cauvery. The narrow strip of vegetation that occurs along and Vaghela, 2013). Protection and maintenance of the river banks is distinct in its composition comprising tall avifaunal diversity is important in maintaining species trees such as Terminalia arjuna, Mangifera indica and diversity of plants and animals (Simeone et al., 2002). Birds Madhuca longifolia. The riverine forest is bordered by the inhabit a variety of ecosystems such as forest, grassland, Athikadavu Valley wetland, etc. (Blair, 1999). Riparian habitats have been shown to be important in maintaining biodiversity (Naiman et al., 1993) and considered as topical forest refugia (Farooqui et al., 2010). Although riparian forests have been known for the high bird species richness (Darveau et al., 1995) very little information is available from India (Johnsingh and Joshua, 1994; Balasubramanian et al., 2004). Hence, with the objective of assessing avian diversity and richness of a riparian forest in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, the present study was carried out in the riparian forests Bhavani river, Western Ghats. Study area The study was carried out in Athikadavu Valley (10o37` – 11o12` N and 76o45` – 77o50` E, Altitude 550m), along the river Bhavani in the Coimbatore Forest Division, Fig. 1: Map of the study area A total of 158 bird species belonging to 121 genera of 56 families were recorded from the lowland riparian forest in Athikadavu Valley, Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. 980 The Indian Forester [October 2016] Bird diversity of a riparian forest in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, India 981 mixed dry deciduous forests predominated by short trees names and scientific nomenclature of bird has been S.No. Family/Common name Scientific name Status Abund- Feeding IUCN such as Diospyros montana, Drypetes sepiaria, and adopted from (DelHoyo and Collar, 2014). The threat ance guild status Strychnos potatorum. Several “Irula” tribal settlements status of the birds given in the check list is as per IUCN list 21 Coraciiformes Coracias benghalensis R 0.90 I LC are situated in Athikadavu Valley who practice agriculture of Threatened Taxa (Birdlife International, 2001). Birds Coraciidae as well as gather forest products for their sustenance. recorded in the study area were classified as residents Indian Roller 22 Alcedinidae Alcedo atthis R 3.05 P LC Material and Methods (seen throughout the year), winter migrants (seen during September-February) and summer migrants (March- Common Kingfisher 23 Cerylidae Ceryle rudis SM 0.20 P LC The study was carried out from August 2012 to July May). Birds were classified into various feeding guilds Pied Kingfisher 2014. Bird census was done by using Line transect method based on Ali and Ripley (1983). Species diversity was as given in Bibby et al. (1992). Censuses were carried out 24 Halcyonidae Halcyon pileata SM 0.10 P LC calculated by using Shannon-Wiener Index H' = - S Pi In Pi Black-capped Kingfisher once in a month during morning hrs (between 0700 and where the Pi = the proportion of individuals of species i. 25 Stork-billed Kingfisher Pelargopsis capensis R 3.90 P LC 0900 hrs) on the Bhavani River bank in Athikadavu valley 26 White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis R 4.40 I LC along the riparian forest strip. Two, 1 km long transects Results 27 Meropidae Merops orientalis R 6.00 I LC with a width of 10 m either side of the census route were The study revealed the occurrence of 158 species Little Green Bee-eater used for the census. Birds sighted were identified using (51.26% Passeriformes and 48.74% Non-Passeriformes) of 28 Chestnut-headed Bee-eater Merops leschenaultia WM 3.70 I LC binoculars (8x40). Photographs of birds were taken by a birds belonging to 18 orders of 56 families and 121 genera 29 Blue-bearded Bee-eater Nyctyornis athertoni SM 0.45 I LC 30 Cuculiformes Clamator coromandus WM 0.25 I LC Canon (12 mp with x 20 optical zoom lenses) camera. Birds in Athikadavu Valley. White-browed Bulbul (26.45) Cuculidae were identified by their characteristic features in followed by Little Cormorant (24.35) and Grey-fronted Chestnut-winged Cuckoo accordance with the standard identification manuals and Green Pigeon (24.35) were found to be the most abundant 31 Jacobin Cuckoo Clamator jacobinus R 0.40 I LC field guides by Ali and Ripley (1983); Ali (2002) and species in the area (Table 1). Among the 18 orders, 32 Common Hawk-cuckoo Hierococcyx varius SM 0.25 I LC Rasmussen and Anderton (2012). Common (English) Passeriformes with 81 species formed the most 33 Grey-bellied Cuckoo Cacomantis passerines R 0.40 I LC 34 Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopaceus R F LC Table 1: Birds recorded in the riparian forest of Athikadavu valley 35 Blue-faced Malkoha Phaenicophaeus viridirostris R 3.80 I LC 36 Sirkeer Malkoha Taccocua leschenaultia R 0.15 I LC S.No. Family/Common name Scientific name Status Abund- Feeding IUCN ance guild status 37 Centropodidae Centropus sinensis R 1.60 I LC Greater Coucal 1 Galliformes Pavo cristatus R 3.00 O LC 38 Psittaciformes Loriculus vernalis R 1.25 F LC Phasianidae Psittacidae Indian Peafowl Vernal Hanging-parrot 2 Grey Junglefowl Gallus sonneratii R 4.80 O LC 39 Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri R 4.80 F LC 3 Common Quail Coturnix coturnix R 0.65 G LC 40 Malabar Parakeet Psittacula columboides R, E 11.65 F LC 4 Jungle Bush-quail Perdicula asiatica R 0.40 G LC 41 Plum-headed Parakeet Psittacula cyanocephala R 1.20 F LC 5 Painted Bush-quail Perdicula erythrorhyncha R 0.85 G LC 42 Apodiformes Apus affinis R 2.35 I LC 6 Piciformes Dinopium javanense R 5.05 I LC Apodidae Picidae Little Swift Common Flameback 43 Strigiformes Otus lettia R 0.40 Cr LC 7 Rufous Woodpecker Micropternus brachyurus R 0.25 I LC Strigidae 8 Indian Pygmy Woodpecker Picoides nanus R 0.70 I LC Collared Scops-owl 9 Lesser Yellownape Picus chlorolophus WM 0.10 I LC 44 Brown Fish-owl Ketupa zeylonensis SM 0.15 Cr LC 10 Yellow-fronted Pied Woodpecker Dendrocopos mahrattensis R 0.50 I LC 45 Rock Eagle-owl Bubo bengalensis R 0.20 Cr LC 11 White-naped Woodpecker Chrysocolaptes festivus R 0.45 I LC 46 Jungle Owlet Glaucidium radiatum R 0.85 Cr LC 12 Capitonidae Psilopogon viridis R 4.85 F LC 47 Brown Hawk-owl Ninox scutulata WM 0.25 Cr LC White-cheeked Barbet 48 Spotted Owlet Athene brama R 0.25 Cr LC 13 Brown-headed Barbet Psilopogon zeylanicus R 5.25 F LC 49 Columbiformes Treron affinis R 23.45 F LC 14 Malabar Barbet Psilopogon malabaricus WM, E 0.15 F LC Columbidae 15 Coppersmith Barbet Psilopogon haemacephalus R 15.75 F LC Grey-fronted Green Pigeon 16 Bucerotiformes Anthracoceros coronatus R 3.90 F NT 50 Nilgiri Woodpigeon Columba elphinstonii WM, E 0.15 F V Bucerotidae 51 Rock Pigeon Columba livia R 4.00 G LC Malabar Pied Hornbill 52 Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica R 1.85 G LC 17 Great Hornbill Buceros bicornis R 0.70 F NT 53 Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis R 9.20 G LC 18 Indian Grey Hornbill Ocyceros birostris WM 0.10 F LC 54 Red Collared-dove Streptopelia tranquebarica R 0.45 G LC 19 Upupiformes Upupa epops R 0.90 I LC 55 Gruiformes Amaurornis phoenicurus R 0.20 I LC Upupidae Rallidae Common Hoopoe White-breasted Waterhen 20 Trogoniformes Harpactes fasciatus SM 0.35 I LC 56 Charadriiformes Vanellus indicus R 2.40 I LC Trogonidae Charadriidae Malabar Trogon Red-wattled Lapwing 980 The Indian Forester [October 2016] Bird diversity of a riparian forest in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, India 981 mixed dry deciduous forests predominated by short trees names and scientific nomenclature of bird has been S.No.
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